Search found 52 matches

by nervouscorps
Thu Jan 26, 2023 5:14 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Longest Wait for Delayed USPS Package
Replies: 22
Views: 2079

Re: Longest Wait for Delayed USPS Package

If its been a month, file a claim. I just filed one on an item missing for 8 weeks and got it approved. If its beyond a certain point they basically have to pay it out. This is why I insure anything over 50 bucks value.
by nervouscorps
Wed Oct 26, 2022 3:19 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New Avantis worldwide ETF with value tilt
Replies: 793
Views: 112473

Re: New Avantis worldwide ETF with value tilt

I've been asking M1 Finance to add AVGE but they haven't (yet). I want it for my IRAs.
by nervouscorps
Fri Nov 12, 2021 4:33 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: First Republic student loan - refund of interest paid
Replies: 3
Views: 389

Re: First Republic student loan - refund of interest paid

I'd be interested to hear where you got a loan rate lower than FRB. They are the lowest I've ever heard of.
by nervouscorps
Tue Sep 01, 2020 2:04 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HELP with any advice for dealing with Paypal.
Replies: 25
Views: 1842

Re: HELP with any advice for dealing with Paypal.

I'm sorry this happened. I am sorry that I don't have better news for you but I think you won't be able to get your money back. Paypal allows this sort of thing to go on under the guise of buyer protection, so I wouldn't handle any transaction on Paypal without some sort of intermediary (like eBay). And even then, eBay is leaving Paypal. I know, I ran a business and we tried accepting paypal. We lost $3000 on the first transaction due to this sort of fraud. Totally different than a credit card chargeback which is a reasonable, regulated process.
by nervouscorps
Wed Apr 08, 2020 2:41 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SBA EIDL Funds
Replies: 30
Views: 1981

Re: SBA EIDL Funds

Nate79 wrote: Wed Apr 08, 2020 2:26 pm
Clark Howard interviewed Ashley Bell from the SBA on April 7th podcast. I recommend anyone dealing with SBA funds to listen to it. I recall this was specifically mentioned. If you don't receive a confirmation email either check your spam folder or reapply. It seems getting that confirmation email is very critical. They also said you can call your nearest SBA office for support.
I only got a confirmation # at the end of application-- no email. Do they recommend reapplying in that instance too?
by nervouscorps
Wed Apr 08, 2020 11:54 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: SBA EIDL Funds
Replies: 30
Views: 1981

Re: SBA EIDL Funds

Nothing yet, applied last week. A mess in terms of explaining and publicizing what the programs are, how they work, making funds available, and follow through.
by nervouscorps
Wed Apr 08, 2020 11:49 am
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Receipt of PPP loan funds
Replies: 26
Views: 2283

Re: Receipt of PPP loan funds

dru808 wrote: Tue Apr 07, 2020 3:39 pm Anyone get an eidl advance? Day 4 no response from the sba
Ditto here (applied friday for EIDL). Nothing. They were pretty insistent it would be 3 days for the funds to be available. Frustrating.
by nervouscorps
Tue Mar 17, 2020 2:05 pm
Forum: US Chapters
Topic: [Archived] Bogleheads community discussion - Coronavirus
Replies: 4963
Views: 298216

Re: Bogleheads community discussion - Coronavirus

KlangFool wrote: Tue Mar 17, 2020 11:35 am Folks,

For anyone in the Bay area, could you please explain what does "shelter in place" mean? I googled and read a bunch of articles and I still do not get it.

Does that mean do not go out of your house at all unless for food and supply?

Thanks in advance.

KlangFool
It means that you should stay at home and only leave for essentials like food, medicine, fuel, etc. There are many exceptions to the shelter in place order so things will be up and running if it is essential to living. You can leave the house and go on a walk or travel alone or with 1 person you live with, everyone else you must stay 6 feet away from. Its for 3 weeks.
by nervouscorps
Sat Oct 26, 2019 1:23 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Anyone buying PG&E stock?
Replies: 64
Views: 7765

Re: Anyone buying PG&E stock?

I live in the PGE service area and given what I see, I wouldn't have to stomach to buy it. It is a company everybody hates and is likely to come up in daily conversation with your neighbors. I can't think of a more risky stock to buy. I'd buy GE before I would buy this thing.
by nervouscorps
Fri Oct 25, 2019 12:57 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: First Republic Bank doesn’t have physical coins
Replies: 78
Views: 7810

Re: First Republic Bank doesn’t have physical coins

FRB is the real deal. Have switched to them and never regretted it.
by nervouscorps
Sun Sep 08, 2019 1:48 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pre-paid Funeral Expenses
Replies: 66
Views: 5596

Re: Pre-paid Funeral Expenses

Paying in advance doesn't always make sense. I am just dealing with my FIL's burial plot he bought out of state over 30 years ago which he didn't use (he died somewhere else years ago and was buried there). We found the certificate for his purchase in our files which we had totally forgotten about and our only option in that state is to sell the plot back to the cemetery (with interest which is nice). Unless you are fairly situated in one geographic location, advanced in age or ill, or your family is very disorganized and you don't want them to deal with it themselves, I don't think it is worth paying in advance. Granted, in theory, paying in advance is a good thing to do and considerate for everyone, but sometimes it doesn't happen as plan...
by nervouscorps
Sat Sep 07, 2019 2:05 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: First Republic Eagle Invest
Replies: 15
Views: 3288

Re: First Republic Eagle Invest

HEDGEFUNDIE wrote: Thu Aug 01, 2019 9:10 pm
The online brokerage has no AUM fee. It also gives you access to hard-to-find-elsewhere funds like DFA and PSLDX.
I'm with FRB and have been for 1.5 years. Got a unbelievable rate on my wife's student loans. I like them a lot so far, cool to hear they do DFA funds in the brokerage account. I think I'd be more likely to do that then the Eagle Invest.
by nervouscorps
Sun Aug 25, 2019 1:58 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Pet Insurance?
Replies: 26
Views: 2172

Re: Pet Insurance?

I have Healthy Paws, and am glad I did. I had two cats die in one year, both of cancer. We got extra time with our babies due to expensive cancer treatments we couldn't have afforded otherwise. The people at Healthypaws are great and they were fast with payments.

I chose HP after reviewing a Consumer Reports article which indicated them and one other company were the only ones that had real $ value.
by nervouscorps
Tue May 07, 2019 5:13 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: HDHP vs Kaiser HMO
Replies: 28
Views: 4045

Re: HDHP vs Kaiser HMO

I've had Kaiser for over 10 years and for the most part I can't complain. My only problem has been finding great internists who are on the younger side who stay for a year or two then leave. My guess is Kaiser is a better place to be a patient than an employee.
by nervouscorps
Wed Dec 26, 2018 1:39 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best 401k providers for small businesses?
Replies: 5
Views: 1073

Re: Best 401k providers for small businesses?

Employee Fiduciary seems to be a favorite here. Low cost, flexible, pick any funds you want. I have used them for 2 companies and they are fantastic.
by nervouscorps
Sun Sep 16, 2018 2:08 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bay Area housing frenzy cooling
Replies: 120
Views: 22166

Re: Bay Area housing frenzy cooling

Pretty funny saying Oakland isn't real Bay Area. I live here and am actually OK with that statement! :wink: Based on purely anecdotal information, it seems to me a lot of people are considering moving to somewhere between the East Bay and Sacramento-- Lodi, Manteca, Stockton, Vacaville etc. I think in 10-20 years the whole SF Bay/Sacramento corridor will be continuous. I rent, and am just going to save until buying makes sense to me. I still see too much irrational behavior in people buying homes in Oakland (people buying crap homes for insane prices, paying way over asking, etc), and irrational behavior in people moving to somewhat, but not substantially less expensive homes in the middle of nowhere. Many people are just leaving the area o...
by nervouscorps
Fri Sep 14, 2018 6:08 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Age in Bonds - Still Recommended?
Replies: 152
Views: 15536

Re: Age in Bonds - Still Recommended?

I'm 40, wife 47, we are 2/3 stocks 1/3 bonds which I like. I'll probably scale back to 50-50 in say, 10 years and probably hold there for quite some time.
by nervouscorps
Fri Sep 14, 2018 6:01 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: MoviePass-Too good to be true, but it's legit.
Replies: 393
Views: 68275

Re: MoviePass-Too good to be true, but it's legit.

I've been with Sinemia for a month and am very happy with it-- I left Moviepass too.
by nervouscorps
Fri Sep 14, 2018 2:30 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Fee Only Variable Annuities
Replies: 2
Views: 602

Re: Fee Only Variable Annuities

The devil is in the details-- if you read the prospectus, there are additional fees when you select low fee funds for the Nationwide Annuity (anything under .35). You end up paying a minimum of .52 total.
Vanguards fee's are .15 but their funds expenses are around .40. So around .45 total
Fidelity's Personal Retirement Annuity is .25 (.15 if you have over 1M) but their index funds are now very cheap, .12 or .14. so around .37-39 total. So it looks like Fidelity may win here expense wise.
by nervouscorps
Wed May 02, 2018 11:49 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: 401k Stable Value Fund Rates?
Replies: 35
Views: 5016

Re: 401k Stable Value Fund Rates?

My wife's 401k has an option from New York Life SVF that is around 1.9% right now. I wasn't tempted by it, that's just not enough for me to get interested-- I went for total bond market. If the rate goes up maybe I'll dip my toe in.
by nervouscorps
Mon Mar 26, 2018 5:23 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best state for ABLE plan?
Replies: 17
Views: 11754

Re: Best state for ABLE plan?

I live in California and got the plan through Ohio. California is supposedly working on establishing their plan but it will probably take some time. My concerns were funds investable (Ohio is Vanguard Lifestrategy funds) and limits of contributions.
by nervouscorps
Fri Feb 16, 2018 5:34 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Disabled and need Investment Advice
Replies: 10
Views: 1257

Re: Disabled and need Investment Advice

If you have ongoing medical expenses that you can't reasonably pay, consider something like what we have in California called County Medical Services. Also consider speaking to a disability attorney to protect the assets you have left.
by nervouscorps
Thu Feb 01, 2018 3:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Motif Investing, 2018 change in fees
Replies: 19
Views: 3184

Re: Motif Investing, 2018 change in fees

I use Motif. At first I was anxious about the fee changes but after reviewing them in detail, it actually doesn't bother me that much. Gone are the $10 rebalance and trade fees and if you have a subscription to Blue, which I did, it really isn't that big of a change.
by nervouscorps
Wed Jan 17, 2018 1:30 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Is a Stable Value fund just a Variable Annuity?
Replies: 25
Views: 3162

Re: Is a Stable Value fund just a Variable Annuity?

In the sense that it is a investment product with a insurance wrapper, then I suppose you could call it that. I researched these a while ago to see if I wanted to add one to my company's 401K, and I don't necessarily think they are bad investments, probably better and less complicated than a variable annuity, but I couldn't find one we had access to that paid more than a bond fund.
by nervouscorps
Sun Dec 03, 2017 5:01 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: How do I convince my employees to invest more?
Replies: 92
Views: 7395

Re: How do I convince my employees to invest more?

I have the same "problem". Business w/30 people, with salaries ranging from 35k to 250k, and I still can't get people to invest that much. We have 100% match up to 3%. At most, people kick in 3%. Me and my wife max out our contributions but nobody else comes even close to our contributions. I've been asked my opinion and given my advice, but mostly find only people 5 or less years from retirement will listen much. You can share the info with people, but its really up to them what to do with the information. Kills me, because I do love my employees, but what can you do? :shock:
by nervouscorps
Mon Nov 13, 2017 12:38 pm
Forum: Personal Consumer Issues
Topic: Do you meditate?
Replies: 142
Views: 19231

Re: Do you meditate?

How wonderful to see other meditators here :)

I have been meditating for 13 years. I am a theravada buddhist. My practice is one of the most important things in my life.
by nervouscorps
Fri Oct 20, 2017 12:04 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Employee Fiduciary for a small business 401k?
Replies: 3
Views: 797

Re: Employee Fiduciary for a small business 401k?

I just set up our company's 401k with them and it has been great so far (first 5 months).
by nervouscorps
Wed Oct 11, 2017 1:09 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: Why no stable value accounts for "retail" investors?
Replies: 11
Views: 2246

Re: Why no stable value accounts for "retail" investors?

My guess is too many people would use them, and also because of their structure, they are more like a insurance policy than a security or bond. So it may not even be permitted.
by nervouscorps
Sun Oct 01, 2017 2:09 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: How Safe are Stable Value Funds
Replies: 24
Views: 4688

Re: How Safe are Stable Value Funds

I just went through a whole ordeal trying to find a Stable Value Fund to put in my business' 401k plan. Most of them are closed to small businesses it seems and the only ones I could find I felt comfortable with were at 2.25% yield. Barely worth it in my opinion.
by nervouscorps
Thu Sep 28, 2017 1:42 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Bay Area Real Estate
Replies: 154
Views: 22591

Re: Bay Area Real Estate

I live in Oakland and rent. Me and wife are 6 figure earners/health care professionals. The houses we want to buy are all at least 1.2-1.5m. At least in Oakland, there is definitely a bubble-- people coming in and offering 100-300k over asking. Until that stuff cools off, at least here, I won't consider buying. But if you look one town over, the situation is different. There are a lot of micro-climates real estate wise. I'm going to be enjoying my apartment and saving until I have enough free cash to get what I want or we'll just continue renting. If things still continue to be nuts, I may move somewhere further out a couple hours from the Bay area (Sonoma/Mendocino/etc).
by nervouscorps
Wed Sep 20, 2017 8:35 pm
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New Betterment Portfolio Strategies
Replies: 13
Views: 5293

Re: New Betterment Portfolio Strategies

Thanks for your comments Explorer, I am liking the blackrock allocation too. Like you, I don't want to load up on PIMIX/PONDX.
by nervouscorps
Mon Sep 18, 2017 3:10 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Late Retirement Help for 65 Year Old Parents
Replies: 8
Views: 1715

Re: Late Retirement Help for 65 Year Old Parents

Would your father consider working for more than just a couple years? He may have to.
by nervouscorps
Thu Sep 14, 2017 11:43 am
Forum: Investing - Theory, News & General
Topic: New Betterment Portfolio Strategies
Replies: 13
Views: 5293

Re: New Betterment Portfolio Strategies

Not a big fan of Smart Beta but I definitely like the Blackrock Income account. May be good if you were in retirement or on the other hand if you wanted to stash away some safer $ in a pure bond situation for a very conservative allocation.
by nervouscorps
Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:52 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Pimco PONDX increasing fee in 3 weeks - stay in?
Replies: 10
Views: 2417

Re: Pimco PONDX increasing fee in 3 weeks - stay in?

I just bought this fund the day before this was announced if you can believe it. I'll probably stay in though.
by nervouscorps
Wed Sep 13, 2017 6:51 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Vanguard Health Care Fund in my portfolio?
Replies: 42
Views: 7622

Re: Vanguard Health Care Fund in my portfolio?

20% is way too much. I like the fund and is one of the only sector funds I own but I think doing more than 5% is very risky. I think my allocation is 3%.
by nervouscorps
Sat Sep 02, 2017 2:44 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What else besides IRAs and HSA?
Replies: 11
Views: 1137

Re: What else besides IRAs and HSA?

Thanks for pointing the taxable out. I'm sure there must be tones of materials I can look at, but where would be a good start?
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Its great you are frugal and happy-- wonderful way to be! For the taxable, You could do a Robo-Advisor like Betterment, Motif (personally I use this), Wealthfront, or even Fidelity has one. Or you could just do it yourself by opening a Brokerage and do the 3 fund portfolio type thing.
by nervouscorps
Sat Sep 02, 2017 1:55 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: What else besides IRAs and HSA?
Replies: 11
Views: 1137

Re: What else besides IRAs and HSA?

In a similar situation myself except I live in a HCOL area so I am envious your expenses are less than 10k annually. I'd start kicking into a taxable account. I was loathe to do it at first but once I did the research as to some of the other options for a situation like ours (e.g. annuities, CDs, etc) I decided the best avenue was the taxable. If you do it right its a great option.
by nervouscorps
Thu Aug 31, 2017 5:18 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Preferred stocks
Replies: 8
Views: 1483

Re: Preferred stocks

There's a good ETF for exposure to preferred: PFF, Ishares Preferred Stock Index.
by nervouscorps
Wed Aug 30, 2017 6:53 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Deferred compensation plan? risky?
Replies: 59
Views: 4597

Re: Deffered compensation plan? risky?

I own a small business with about 20 employees. If I paid 12% on my loans I certainly wouldn't advertise it.
by nervouscorps
Tue Aug 22, 2017 12:54 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 29 Years Old: Am I Too Conservative
Replies: 15
Views: 2373

Re: 29 Years Old: Am I Too Conservative

You can never be wrong, regardless of your allocation since its about your comfort level. You need to have an allocation that allows you to sleep at night and has the promise of meeting your needs in retirement, then there's nothing else to consider. If you have that, then there's no worries!
by nervouscorps
Tue Aug 15, 2017 6:14 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Buy + hold to avoid being priced out in the Bay Area?
Replies: 21
Views: 3320

Re: Buy + hold to avoid being priced out in the Bay Area?

I'm sure you know that the Bay Area, at least in many areas is in a bubble. Here in Oakland, there are many what I would call just decent houses going for 20, 30, even 50% over asking price. Not sure where you are looking but even for the bay area, it feels bubbly and excessive.
by nervouscorps
Wed Aug 09, 2017 6:28 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: I pay $6K in rent. Am I an idiot for not buying?
Replies: 76
Views: 16568

Re: I pay $6K in rent. Am I an idiot for not buying?

I'm in Oakland and pay $5000/mo for a apartment I love and have decided not to buy until things cool down. I wouldn't delve into buying anything right now with the market as it is here because its insane (people paying 10, 20, even 50% over asking for so-so houses). But thats just Oakland, a couple towns over its completely different. My guess is LA is like that too-- just very trendy and climactic.
by nervouscorps
Wed Aug 02, 2017 5:20 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Best account type for solo or a small group of physicians.
Replies: 3
Views: 628

Re: Best account type for solo or a small group of physicians.

I own a small medical group and we ended up doing a 401K with Employee Fiduciary and are happy with it. We may explore down the line a Cash Balance Plan as we get bigger but for now the 401k everyone seems to be happy with.
by nervouscorps
Thu Jul 13, 2017 3:07 pm
Forum: Personal Finance (Not Investing)
Topic: Sale of Oil/Gas Royalty
Replies: 21
Views: 1919

Re: Sale of Oil/Gas Royalty

My family dealt with this recently for some wells my grandfather bought in West Texas in the 50s-- we ended up having to counsel an attorney that specializes in this sort of thing because it ended up being incredibly complex from just about every direction you can imagine it. We were going to sell, but chose to keep them I believe partially because of tax repercussions.
by nervouscorps
Sat Jul 08, 2017 5:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Fidelity, Vanguard or Schwab? I need to choose.
Replies: 62
Views: 24199

Re: Fidelity, Vanguard or Schwab? I need to choose.

VG has better funds for the most part, but worse customer service. I am with Fidelity and am happy there.
by nervouscorps
Wed Jun 21, 2017 7:01 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: solo 401k, SEP IRA or roth 401k?
Replies: 7
Views: 2086

Re: solo 401k, SEP IRA or roth 401k?

I was just dealing with this very issue for my wife who is a private practice therapist. Our financial advisor explained that if we anticipate her earning more over the years (we do) and our taxable income to increase towards retirement (we do) a Roth 401k makes sense.
by nervouscorps
Wed Jun 21, 2017 6:58 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Small Business Owner with Simple IRA. Debating Switch to 401k
Replies: 13
Views: 2254

Re: Small Business Owner with Simple IRA. Debating Switch to 401k

I just switched from a SEP-IRA to a 401k and have to say its much easier and the employees like it more (and understand the benefit they are getting, whereas I think with IRAs they don't). My business is the same size 14 employees and I match at 3%.
by nervouscorps
Fri Jun 02, 2017 1:26 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: Help me decide how my Fidelity 2% Cashback rewards should be invested plz.
Replies: 20
Views: 2956

Re: Help me decide how my Fidelity 2% Cashback rewards should be invested plz.

I have used the $ from this card to buy Munis in my taxable account up until now, but will probably purchase a index fund and there and start adding to it.
by nervouscorps
Mon May 15, 2017 2:27 pm
Forum: Personal Investments
Topic: 401(k) Plan Advisor Recommendation
Replies: 6
Views: 1073

Re: 401(k) Plan Advisor Recommendation

I just finished setting up my company's 401(k) with Employee Fiduciary and I can tell you they've been great and very efficient so far.